The state Board of Education is lobbying for a new state law to require school districts to do state criminal background checks on substitute teachers.

State law presently only requires school districts to conduct background checks on certified teachers in regular classrooms. The state Board of Education voted unanimously at Tuesday’s meeting to ask for a change in state law so substitute teachers are subject to criminal background checks.

“We hope this sends a strong signal to school districts concerning the importance of establishing and enforcing tight screening criteria for substitute teachers,” State Board of Education Chairman Tim Moore said in a news release.

The proposed law change will have minimal impact in most school districts. Cherokee County is among many school districts already doing SLED background checks on substitute teachers. County school administrators take the process of screening potential employees a step further.

“We have background checks done on student teachers, substitute teachers, substitute custodians and anyone else who has contact with children in the schools,” district personnel director Carlotta Redish said.

The State Board of Education resolution proposes SLED charge school districts no more than the $8 that nonprofit groups pay for criminal background checks. This would be a significant savings from the $25 currently paid by Cherokee County schools.

The Cherokee County School District conducts training before each school year on child abuse prevention, bullying and harassment issues. This training is required for regular classroom teachers, substitute teachers, custodians and school bus drivers.

The prevention training and background checks are precautionary measures to make sure children are in a safe environment in county schools, Redish said.

“We want to make sure our children are safe,” she said.